Office of the Attorney GeneralAttorney General Conway Announces Arraignment of Former Louisville Caregiver for Abuse

Press Release Date:

Friday, April 17, 2015

Contact Information:

Leland HulbertDeputy Communications Director502-696-5659

Attorney General Jack Conway today announced the arraignment of a former direct support personnel for one count of knowing abuse or neglect of an adult, a Class C felony. A criminal summons was issued in June 2014. This afternoon 27-year-old Julienne Lesa of Louisville pleaded not guilty during her arraignment in Jefferson District Court.

Lesa was a caregiver at the Bingham House, a Louisville facility that provides services for individuals with intellectual disabilities. On January 21, 2014, while employed as direct support personnel, Lesa allegedly struck a 19-year-old special needs resident in the face with an open hand.

Attorney General Conway’s Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control Unit investigated this case after a referral from the Department of Community Based Services. The case is being prosecuted by Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Thomas B. Wine.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for May 7, at 9:00 a.m. in Jefferson District Court. Lesa faces a potential sentence of five to 10 years in prison if convicted.

A charge is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The Attorney General's Office believes that every patient in a nursing home, Medicaid facility, or personal care home deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and should be free from patient abuse, neglect or exploitation. Instances of abuse will be investigated, and when appropriate, prosecuted. Attorney General Conway has investigated and prosecuted more abuse and neglect cases than any previous Kentucky Attorney General. The Attorney General’s tip line for reporting allegations of abuse is 1-877-228-7384.

Medicaid Recoveries

Since Attorney General Conway took office in January 2008, his Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control has recovered or been awarded more than $280 million for the state and federal Medicaid programs. These cases range from lawsuits and settlements against pharmaceutical companies to cases against individual providers.

In 2013, General Conway’s Medicaid Fraud Unit was named one of the most aggressive in the country by the nonprofit watchdog group Public Citizen.